Let's take it back to basics...

Cooking for yourself every night can mean that sometimes you're a bit stuck for inspiration.

When you look on Instagram for some ideas, every man and his dog seems to be a 'foodie' so we think it's time to take it back to basics!

Sometimes you just can't beat a meal that's cheap, healthy and only uses a few (but tasty) ingredients:

Tuna pasta bake

This is one of the easiest things you can do - boil some pasta, drain it and then add the tuna, your vegetables and a tomato pasta sauce. Don't forget your cheese for the top! If you're vegetarian or vegan just replace the tuna with more of your favourite veggies. 

Beef stir fry

This is SO easy to do. You could use noodles or rice - either of them are cheap and healthy. This is ideal if you've got some vegetables left over that you need to use before they go off and you can make it in a big batch and freeze it. 

Masala omelette

Surely you've all made an omelette before, right? Well, this recipe is probably one of the best - it makes it a bit more exciting using Indian spices and ingredients. Try it out and see how you get on - it's perfect for lunchtime. 

Tasty jacket potato

This is one of the easiest and cheapest meals you can make. For the best results, put it in the microwave for 5 minutes before 15-20 minutes in the oven. When it's done, scoop out the middle and mix it with cheese and bacon then pop it back in and grill it until the cheese has melted - sooo good! 

Enchiladas

If you love fajitas (another great student meal) then why not step them up a notch and turn them into enchiladas. You make fajitas as you would normally and then cover them in a tomato sauce, cheese and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. 

Vegetable lasagne

SO much cheaper than a beef version and you don't have to compromise on flavour. The best thing is, it pretty much works with any veggies - think mushrooms, peppers, courgettes, sweetcorn and basically any others that are your faves.  

You've probably noticed that a lot of these include a tomato sauce and that's what you need to become the master. Once you can do this you're set for pasta, casseroles, bolognese sauce and so much more! All you need is tinned tomatoes, tomato puree or passata, basil, garlic and onions - simple.

Hopefully that will help you the next time you're ever stuck for ideas - Bon appetit!